Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-11
GERMAN SOCIAL LIFE.
an Albany Lady's Impressions OF
Harlin Housekeaps-s.
All WOMEN In the Fatherlani Pronouncs d
Admirable Naaagers-A Typical '.ISaf-
fee Visite"-Libaral DispsnsatioR
sf Coffee anl Gossip.

or, Albany Argus.l
Having always had desire to vel
through Germany, not only TO see its
places Of historic interest, but to know it
socially. so as TO become familiarized with
its manners and customs. we gladly made
first step in that direction b. fiylng
visit 20 Berlin, which was very delightful.
only too short. Two days stay in place
scarcely sDfiices TO find material for
writing fun account of the town, though
it has heen considered long enough 10
write history of manners, customs and
politics of America. We were guests of
the charming Madame Won B., who did
all that was possible to make our visit
pleasant. She gave ''kalfee visits" in
our honor, and also gave US much inter-
esting information concerning domestic
matters. The Germans, all must aclSnewl-
ledge, are excellent housekeepers The
young girls, in every class of society,
are, at an carly age, instructed in the
art of preparing all manner of good
dishes, all the details Of housekeeping,
and arc also expert needle-women. The
darnlng Of stockings has with them be
come almost fine art. so admirably do
they MI IN the worR places that it is hard
~ an eXacgaration to say that they come
from tbeir hands almost better than new
When German girl mIrries, she is quite
capable, with her own fair hands, to pre-
pare the most vrnderful dishes to tempt
the appetite Of her rather exactipg hus-
band, who. having been accustomed to his
mothers active uperintendence of such
matters, knows OF no reason why his
young wife should not continue them for
his. benefit. More than this, she can iron
his N rarfpptinn md SanS that 4l,ara
arc no buttons missing, so saves herself
from the "natUtnai blessing that per-
haps some American wives, from frequent
hearing, listen 10 without lnching. She
is indeed an accomplished houseiseeper
aud we would be the very last to say
word against it, and we have only a sugges-
tion 10 make, that knowing so thoroughly
how 10 be an efficient housckeeper, it
would see IN to Us that it would be better
to confine herself 10 the supervision of
her house, leaving the details to be car
ried out by her servants. There are sure
ly higher aims in life than TO be a good
cock and 10 make uncxccptionablc coIee
But She is quite contented and thorough
ly convinced that it is only in Germany
that you viii find good wives, mothers
and housckcepers She may often he
weary but rarely idle, for in the spare
moments there is always tho crocheting
of one CT those complicated tides that
adorn each chair and sofa. The husband,
too, has kindly oversight OF domestic
matters When the evening closes in,
comfortably cscouccd in his chair, in
dressing-gown and slippers, lazily smok-
ing his long pipe, he viii overlook the
family accounts and lie any thing but
pleased if the expenditure exceeds the
amount he deems necessary to cover ex-
hO III, =,
any more taan the rest of LIS kan !, but il
sounds worse in German, YOU know.
a "kaffee visiten was given in our hon.
or, to which 10 man was Invited IL is
customary 10 issue the invitations solae
ten days in advance to come and drink
coffee 1T five o'clock. II is like our kettle
drums, i'll short, only instead OF tho dYiad-
ing tea, strong black coffee is provided,
and they certainly make it to PERFECTION.
We never drank any more delicious.
Great preparations are made for the af-
fair. They begin early in the morning;
FIRST the floors are TO be washed, the chan
deliers to be rubbed and polished as well
a5 the mahogany furniture, covered with
Utrecht velvet, and above all they wipe
with infinite caro- the curious collection Of
bric-a-brac that you see through the glass
doors OF the cabinet. such as the paper
glass, the Dresden mirror. / can rot
enumerate half the contents. The mis-
trcss of the ho9se, with duster and
brush in hand, her hair in curl
papers, her feet thrust into comfortable
pair of Old slippers, spperintends this
thorough cleaning They breakfast stand.
ing, taking barely time TO eat. lest they
should not be IN readiness But at last the
finishing touch has been given. the table
set out with ali manner OF eood things,
cakes hard, cakes soft and covered with
most tempting icing, pink and white,
sausages, ham, cheese, chocolate, saucr
milk beer, champagne, all ready and only
waiting for the guests arrival TO make the
famous coffee. Madame issues forth from
under the hands of the hair-dresser com
p.etely transformed. looking, perhaps, a
tiific old fashioned from French stand
point, herhair tightly curled, except where
1T is carried up in q sort Of mass
to the very top Of her head, her collar fas-
tened by large brooch containing the
likeness of the good man of the house.
and handsome dress of silk with long
train She then enters her drawing-room
and awaits tho arrival of her guests.
Each one is received with emoresseaae,.t
Three titled ladies' arriving at The same
time, there was listic embarrassment as
10 the 0lspOSitlon OF them, but they set
tied it finally amongst them selves by all
three occupying the sofa. The conversa
ton soon became general, and they dis
c1ssed-weil, what every one does on such
occasions, l suppose-the weather, the las;
new fashion, Mrs. AS baby having cut It's
FIRST tooth, the best way OF making sour
and many other equally important mat
ters. When the last guest he'd been wei
coined, the solemn moment arrived.
The coffes is served and the feast be
gins; happiness reigns supreme, conver.
sation never flags even for moment, fol
when all other subjects fail the adventures
of Goethe and s chiller are always 10 b,
discussed, and the decision REGARDING the
Superiority OF enc over the other alway:
restores animation. We nave never We
met German OF either sex who eve.
wearie1 o. the subject
They win give the last bit Of gossip tha
they have iust heard from the honne OF
The hairdressers, how that Cononel Y
was seen flirting with pret-y little won
I IN who sells tobacco in the Friedrich
strasse, and that young Baron e was
net in compromising company at the
Thiergarten. Then come the adieux;
c;l arning visit, and with matter enough
talk about tai the nexs meeting.
-.------
Mr. BlufTuTn's Honest Sentiments.